News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1887-11-03
THE DESERTER.
A Picture of fAustro-Italian Frontier
Life.

FROM A POLICE CAPTAINS DIARY.
Captain, ask your protection, 1 am
an italian deserter."
He was tall, well-built fellow, with
fiery black eyes, dusl1y complexion
and short dark hair, who spoke these
words to me. The linen trousers he
wore were too short, the coat too large.
Between his hands he twisted a tattered
hat of undefinable color, on his feet he
had shoes, of whose military origin
there could be no doubt. Had he not
pronounced himself deserter, I would
have recognized him as such at first
sight. A patrol had caught him at
their nightly round near the frontier
and brought him before me.
"What's your name?"
"Andrea Menotti' -
"Whence came you, and what are
you?"
''From Santa Margherita, in Pied
mont. My father was one of the Mile,
who gained everlasting glory under
Garibaldi I, his son, in whom he took
SO much pride, stand here miserable
deserter, asking for foreigners protec-
tion." He had uttered these words with
a mixture of bitter Obstinacy and the
by experience, look at every deserter
with distrustful eyes, yet felt a certain
interest in this man.
''Whence did you escape?"
''From Fortress Ceraino I am or
rather was 6ersagIiere (sharpshooter) in
the Fifth company, second. battalion,
now in summer quarters at that place. !"
"Why did you run away?"
because l gave my corporal a good
thrashing. Do you know what that
means, captain? Ten Years at hard
labor, more than Andrea Menotti could
stand-rather liberty in exile or quick
death"
$50 you got off,"
"I did. Do you see those stripes
around my wrists They are from the
ropes with which they tied me. With
my teeth tore them. Do you see those
blood-stained hands, They broke the
iron gratings of my easements. And
do you know the fearful precipice,
which falls in terrible crags from Fort
ress Ceraino to Etsch riyer2 / climbed
down it, almost certain death before my
eyes. Whether the Lord or Satan has
spared me, do not know, but what I've
coveted, have attained-I am free
man."
'sNot vet, Andrea Menotti Our laws
grant an asylum to a deserter only
on certain conditions. You did not be
long, before you deserted, to a so-called
disgrace company 2"
mo, captain.
''Nor committed any other crime ex-
cept desertion2"
sfNone. You only need inquire" F."
stIt will be my duty to do so. One
more question. Are your means suffici
ent to provide for your wants till you
find work 2"
''Just now / am without means, cap
tain. My last franc L gave to the pea s.
ant who procured these rags for me; but
as soon as I shall have notified my bro
ther, a well-to-dO merchant in Verona,
/ expect to have money in plenty"
''Every deserter has had the same
hope, but only in rare instances was it
fulilled. l ought to send you back
over the frontier"
"0h no, captain, you will not be so
cruel if you have but one atom of feel
ing in your bosom. Ny flight was an
act of despair; with my life I've played
"a bdnque, and now that I've won the
SoiiC, yOu VIII uOb ClItdJ IlG OuJ Vi my
stake"
"And how can you prove the truth of
your statements %
bitter smile passed over the desert
er's face.
Il am in your power. Neither you
nor | Will care for few days imprison-
ment. During the reprieve I shall OBJ
tam the necessary means, while You will |
get the desired information. And here
swear a solemn oath, that, should my
assertions prove to be false. will deliy- |
er myself up to the next italian post"
Hls words were those of an honest
man.
'Be it so, / decided. sI'll take the
responsibility. Andrea Menotti. Won
remain our prisoner for the, present s.
refused to receive hiss thanks and
the deserter was led away.
Two days afterwards an Italian naos
ant girl was announced. She hardly
counted twenty summers, was small cf
stature, but of good shape, not exactIv
pretty, but rather interesting LOOKING
with rich chestnut-colored hair. and
flashing dark eyes of a size seldom seen
even Iii Italy.
'I am Agnese Perrini, =" she said. Sand
came from Ceraino to see Andrea Menot-
IT,"